Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-14

nothing else, very keen business wo
man.
When the crops were gathered and
sold she came to pay Minnie another
visit, stayed longer, and was more ugly,
domineering, and offensive than before.
Dick grinned and bore it, When she
at last departed he hoped she might
get married or die, or anything-so lie
should never see her again.
But she came again and again,
always remaining for longer periods,
until Richard concluded that she would
soon make two visits year-and stay
six months each time. Then he, in a
mild way, -"kicked' tried to gently i'm
press upon his Minnie's mind that Catty
was neither ornamental or pleasant,
that he could bear with happiness her
continual absence. To his surprise he
found the little woman, in this one
matter. had a will of her own; she
talked Of her many obligations to her
sister, of the gross ingratitude of neg
lecting her, etc, etc and a lear from
her bright eyes flooded away all Dick S
objections at once.
Don't cry, dear, don't CRY. Let her
come and live here forever,-and be
blessed to her." the latter bene,lic-
ton in very much undertone.
Richard was sly, every sly" like
Major Joey Bagstock; and he went to
work with his wits to stock cold
deck" of mental cards against Miss
Catharine. He introduced to his house
and table crop-headed, sharp-tongued
lady of advanced IDEAS" and long
haired, long-windad, long-nosed, and
long-legged gentleman crank, and with
these he talked continually of "affini-
ties" kindred souls" foolish bar
riers of legal and social restriction, :"
and like topics, nearly all Of which
were as Greek to the supplemented
little wife, though she had an indefin-
able, uncomfortable feeling that it
wasn't nice or entirely proper.
Dick seemed more and more infatu-
ated with the new doctrine; OCCASION
oily he would appear cold or slightly
neglectful of some attention, and it
worried her more than little.
Then he began eagerly to inquire
when Catty was coming, to urge his
wife to write and hurry her sisters ar
rival. And Minnie wondered and fret
ted still more.
At last, one day, during Dicks alb
sence from home, Catty came. When
Richard met her on his return his
greeting was more than brotherly He
vowed she should have written him so
he could have met her with the car
riage, and he actually kissed and en-
braced her, while his wife stood by,
wholly overlooked, wide-eyed, and feel
ing-she didn't exactly know how, but
paralyzed with establishment and
something.
| After that Dick was the most atten,
tive, the most devoted; if he hadn't
been married, any one might, could,
would and should have said, clover
to the ugly spinster, while his was left
to amuse and console herself as best
she could. In illftting, horribly
mixed, cheap, and tawdry tinery, Catty
was "beaued" by Dick to theaters,
operas, fairs, picture and flower shows,
and every place Of entertainment HI
invariably had only "two" tickets 70,
these and his wife was each time
quietly ignored with the remark:
"You know you don't care for such
things, Minnie, and she, poor little
soul, would sigh and say nothing.
When there was no sightseeing of al
evening, Dick insisted on Catty's seat
ing herself at the piano, and while she
would maui the keys and murder the
vocalization, he hung over her in rap
ture, until Minnie, who had sweet lit
was the essence of soul-music, sal
trembling with jealousy and heart-sicl1
ness.
Catty assumed more high and mighty
airs uuau ever, Tuleu Iue mousse, pdlfOn
lied with a pitying sort Of manner, hel
sister, and ordered Dick around like {
slave.
!: Such "goin's on" could not last.
They didn't.
Little Minnie had plenty of spirit il
her makeup, only she had not know
it until her wifely feelings were out
ragged so continually and obnoxiously.
Catty's visit had extended into it:
third week. when, one night after re
turn from the opera Of the ancient anG
her husband, she saw the latter EN-
) brace her sister in the hall and imprin
sounding kiss on the thin, willing
lips, lie not seeming to care if his wife
were within sight or hearing.
Mrs. Richard Thornton, a little later
/ visited her sisters room, where tina
lady was just about doing" the THU
whisp of dry-straw-lil1e, miil-dewed
colored thatch she called her bac]
, hair.
What ,,occo1 in that NOON, what vo